ISHPEMING, Mich. — The City of Ishpeming has officially declared August as RAMBA Month, recognizing the Range Area Mountain Bike Association for its decades-long commitment to building and maintaining a sprawling singletrack trail system in Marquette County.
RAMBA’s 80-plus miles of hand-built trails stretch across the terrain of Ishpeming and Negaunee. What began in the early 1980s as a few locals carving paths through the woods for personal use has grown into a nationally recognized trail network, drawing mountain bikers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country.
“We just appreciate that gesture and try to be good stewards and keep them in nice shape—open to all, open to everybody, open to the public for walking, biking, hiking, dog walking,” said Glenn Lurley, president of RAMBA.
Lurley, who co-founded the original trail efforts more than 40 years ago, said the project was never about recognition. But over the years, the impact of the trails has become clear—economically, culturally, and personally.
“People stay and eat and fill up gas and stay in motels and Airbnbs and stuff,” Lurley said. “They’re my kind of people. So it’s been really positive.”
The group’s volunteer-driven model is at the heart of its identity. All trails are free to use, and RAMBA operates entirely on community donations and grants. Volunteers handle everything from grooming trails in the winter to cutting brush in the summer.
“This is basically our legacy, what we’re trying to leave for future people,” Lurley said. “And Danny and I are getting old as hills, but we’ve got a bunch of people on the board that are younger and have that same vision and drive to keep it going for as long as you can.”
The trail system’s reputation extends beyond the Upper Peninsula. RAMBA hosts several competitive events, including the grueling Margie Gessick, a 100-mile mountain bike race with more than 13,000 feet of elevation gain. The event has earned national recognition and contributed to RAMBA’s reputation as a destination for serious riders.
Despite its size, Lurley says the spirit of the organization remains the same. The group continues to prioritize accessibility and community involvement.
“Not everybody’s at the same state of skills and time on a bike,” he said. “So we want to develop more easier trails to get more people out to enjoy and involved.”
Lurley also noted that the group has intentionally avoided the trend toward machine-built “flow trails” seen in other parts of the country. Instead, RAMBA’s trails are nearly all hand-built, winding tightly through rugged terrain.
“We decided a long time ago that we’re going to be different—just because we can, I guess,” Lurley said. “So 95% of our trail is hand-built, and we’ve decided and voted to keep that going.”
RAMBA also maintains 30 to 35 miles of groomed trails in the winter, allowing for fat biking, skiing, and snowshoeing during the colder months. The Polar Roll, their annual winter race, predates the Margie Gessick and continues to grow in popularity.
The August designation as RAMBA Month was approved by Ishpeming officials in July. Lurley said the recognition was unexpected but deeply appreciated.
“It feels awesome,” he said. “It gives us a nice little push to get things going and keep things going.”
Lurley says they plan to continue expanding the trail network in the future.
